Daniel 13

1There was a man living in Babylon, and his name was Jehoiakim.

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2He took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a very beautiful woman and one who feared the Lord.

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3Her parents were righteous and taught their daughter according to the Law of Moses.

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4Jehoiakim was exceedingly wealthy, with a spacious garden adjoining his house, and the Jews came to him because he was the most honored of them all.

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5In that year, two elders from the people were appointed as judges, concerning whom the Lord said, 'Lawlessness came forth out of Babylon from the elders who were judges, who were supposed to govern the people.'

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6These men were frequently at Jehoiakim's house, and all who had judgments came to them.

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7Now when the people departed at midday, Susanna would go into her husband's garden to walk.

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8So the two elders would see her going in and walking about every day, and they desired her.

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9They turned away their heart and averted their eyes from looking to heaven, and from remembering righteous judgments.

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10Both were pierced to the heart for her, but they did not tell each other their pain.

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11They were ashamed to inform one another of their desire, because they wished to have relations with her.

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12So every day they eagerly watched to see her.

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13Finally they said to one another, 'Let us go home, for it is time for the midday meal,' and going out, they parted from each other.

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14But turning back, they met again, and when they pressured each other for the reason, they confessed their desire. Together they arranged for a time they could find her alone.

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15Then it came to pass, while they were waiting for an opportune day, she went in as before with only two maids. She also wished to bathe in the garden, for it was hot.

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16For no one was there except the two elders, who hid themselves and were watching her.

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17She said to her maids, 'Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the doors of the garden, that I may bathe.'

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18They did as she said and closed the garden doors. They went out by the side doors to bring the things commanded, but did not see the elders, because they were hidden.

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19When the maids left, the two elders arose and ran to her,

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20and said, 'Look, the doors of the garden are closed, and no one will see us, and we desire you. Therefore give us your consent and lie with us.

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21If you do not, we will testify that a young man was with you, and because of this you sent your maids away from you.'

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22Then Susanna sighed deeply and said, 'I am hemmed in on all sides, for if I do this thing, it is death for me; yet if I do not, I will not escape your hands.

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23But it is better for me not to do it and to fall into your hands, than to sin against the Lord.'

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24Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and the two elders cried out against her.

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25One of them ran and opened the garden doors.

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26When the household servants heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in by the side doors to see what had happened to her.

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27So when the elders told their tale, the servants were deeply ashamed, for such a report had never been made about Susanna.

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28Then it came to pass the next day, when the people assembled at the house of Jehoiakim, her husband, the two elders also came full of their lawless purpose against Susanna, to have her put to death. They said before all the people,

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29'Send for Susanna the daughter of Hilkiah, who is the wife of Jehoiakim.'

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30So they sent for her, and she came with her parents, her children, and all her kindred.

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31Now Susanna was very desirable and beautiful to behold.

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32However, she was veiled; thus the lawless men commanded she be unveiled, so as to enjoy her beauty.

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33But her friends and all who saw her wept.

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34Then the two elders arose in the midst of the people and laid their hands upon her head.

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35She wept and looked up to heaven; for her heart trusted in the Lord.

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36The two elders said, 'As we were walking in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, closed the doors of the garden, and dismissed the maids.

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37Then a young man who was hidden came to her and lay with her.

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38Now we were in a corner of the garden and saw this lawlessness. So we ran to them and saw them having relations.

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39But we could not hold the man, for he was stronger than we. He then opened the doors and rushed out.

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40So we seized this woman and asked her who the young man was,

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41but she was unwilling to tell us.' Thus the assembly believed them, as they were elders and judges among the people. So they condemned her to death.

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42But Susanna cried out with a loud voice and said, 'O eternal God, who know both what is secret and all things before they come to be,

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43You know these men testified against me falsely, and behold, I shall die, though I did none of the things they wickedly invented against me.'

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44The Lord heard her voice,

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45and as she was being led away to be put to death, God aroused the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel.

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46He cried out with a loud voice, 'I am innocent of the blood of this woman.'

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47So all the people turned to him and said, 'What is this thing you said?'

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48Then he stood in their midst and said, 'Are you such fools, O sons of Israel? Without examination or knowledge of the evidence, have you condemned a daughter of Israel?

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49Return to the place of judgment, for these men testified against her falsely.'

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50So all the people returned with haste. The elders said to him, 'Come, sit in our midst and inform us, for God gives you that privilege.'

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51Daniel then said to them, 'Separate them far from each other, and I will examine them.'

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52When they were separated from each other, he summoned one of them and said to him, 'You old man of evil days, now the sins you committed in earlier days have come home;

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53for you pronounce unjust judgments, condemn the innocent, and set the guilty free. Yet the Lord said, 'You shall not kill the innocent and the righteous.'

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54Now then, if indeed you saw her, tell me, under which tree did you see them being intimate with each other?' He replied, 'Under a mastic tree.'

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55Daniel then said, 'Plainly, you lied against your own head, for even now the angel of God receives the sentence from God, and he shall cut you in two.'

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56Then he removed him, and commanded them to bring the other. He said to him, 'You seed of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty deceived you, and desire turned away your heart.

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57This is how both of you deal with the daughters of Israel, and they have been intimate with you through fear; but a daughter of Judah would not endure your lawlessness.

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58Now then, tell me, under what tree did you catch them being intimate with each other?' He replied, 'Under the evergreen oak.'

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59Daniel said to him, 'Plainly, you also lied against your own head, for the angel of God is waiting with his sword to cut you in two, that he may destroy both of you.'

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60Then the whole assembly cried out with a loud voice and blessed God, who saves those who hope in Him.

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61So they rose up against the two elders, for Daniel convicted them out of their own mouth of bearing false witness; and they did to them the thing they maliciously intended to do against their neighbor.

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62For acting in accordance with the Law of Moses, they put them to death. Therefore innocent blood was saved on that day.

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63Hilkiah and his wife praised God for their daughter, with Jehoiakim her husband and all her kindred, because nothing shameful was found in her.

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64Thus Daniel had a great reputation among the people from that day onward.

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